Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis (8780.3)

Please note these are the 2018 details for this unit
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Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Science And Technology
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Academic Program Area - Science Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit provides an introduction to toxicological assays, including presumptive and confirmation testing in a variety of biological matrices, and a comprehensive pharmacological and analytical review of some major drug classes include alcohol, drugs for the treatment of mood disorders (anti-psychotics and anti-depressants), anxiolytics and hypnotics (barbiturates and benzodiazepines), anesthetics, opioids, psychedelic drugs, amphetamine related compounds, cocaine, and cannabinoids. Other topics covered include the clandestine manufacture and profiling of illicit drugs, drug-facilitated sexual assault, and drugs in sport.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Understand the basis of presumptive and confirmation testing, and compare and evaluate the use of a variety of biological matrices in toxicological analysis;

2. Discuss the pharmacological characteristics and analytical considerations of several major drugs classes commonly encountered in forensic toxicology;

3. Explain how pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic parameters can be used to interpret toxicological findings;

4. Summarise the role of forensic toxicology in areas such as sports drug testing and drug-facilitated sexual assault cases;

5. Discuss the clandestine manufacture of illicit drugs and the profiling strategies implemented for different illicit drug classes; and

6. Collate, analyse, evaluate, interpret and present information from toxicological based analysis.



Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

Must have passed 8043 Analytical Chemistry and 8342 Introduction to Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Corequisites

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

General understanding of pharmacology and toxicology (as covered in the pre-requisite unit).
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

Recommended Texts:

Battista, E et al. (2015), Crash Course: Pharmacology. 4th ed. Elsevier Health Sciences UK. Electronic version available through University of Canberra Library website.

Karch SB (2007), Drug Abuse Handbook. 2nd ed. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. Available through University of Canberra Library - request to borrow.

Klaassen CD and Watkins JB (2015) Casarett and Doull's Essentials of Toxicology. 3rd ed. McGraw Hill. Electronic version available through University of Canberra Library website.

Moffat AC et al. ed. (2011) Clarke's Analysis of Drugs and Poisons: in pharmaceuticals, body fluids and post-mortem material. 4th ed. Pharmaceutical Press. Electronic version available through University of Canberra Library website.

Negrusz A and Cooper GAA ed. (2013) Clarke's Analytical Forensic Toxicology. 2nd Ed. Pharmaceutical Press. Electronic version available through University of Canberra Library website.

Rang HP et al. (2016) Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. 8th ed. Elsevier. Electronic version available through University of Canberra Library website.

These texts are available for temporary loan in the University of Canberra Library.

Specific reference readings related to the lecture/workshop topic will also be provided via the Reading List on Canvas each week.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Laboratory report submission

The laboratory reports must include the FTDA marking rubric as the first page of the submission (the marking rubric is available on Canvas), and be submitted as a single PDF document; refer to Canvas for more information.

Student declaration

Students will be asked to confirm the following online declaration at the point of submission.  I certify that:

• the attached assignment is my own work and no part of this work has been written for me by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised by the lecturer/s concerned;

• material drawn from other sources has been fully acknowledged as to author/creator, source and other bibliographic details according to unit-specific requirements for referencing; and

• no part of this work has been submitted for assessment in any other unit in this or another Faculty except where authorised by the lecturer/s concerned.

Responsibility for understanding

If there is any doubt with regard to the requirements of any particular assignments or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the Unit Convener or tutor. Further, it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are correctly enrolled in the unit and that the tutor and Student Administration have their correct contact details.

Special assessment requirements

The final mark for this unit will be calculated by an accumulation of marks from each weighted assessment item. An aggregate mark of 50 % is required to pass the unit.  To pass this unit a student must also:

  1. attempt all assessment items;
  2. participate in at least 80 % of the laboratory classes; and
  3. achieve an average of 50 % or more for the laboratory assessments.

The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment will usually only be offered to students who have failed a single unit in their final semester with a final mark between 45-49% and the unit is required for course completion.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

The contact hours for each student consist of approximately 24 hours of lectures/workshops (12 x 2 hrs), and 15 hours of laboratory work (5 x 3 hrs), totalling 39 hours. The remaining 111 hours of workload should be distributed across the various assessment tasks (e.g. laboratory reports are worth 20% each and should therefore account for approximately 22 hours preparation time each).

Participation requirements

Participation in laboratory classes is a compulsory condition of this unit, and attendance will be recorded.   You must participate in at least 80 % of laboratory classes to pass this unit (e.g. at least 4 out of 5 classes). In the event that you cannot attend your assigned laboratory class due to illness or unavoidable commitments, contact the Unit Convener (with supporting documentation, e.g. medical certificate) as soon as possible to negotiate an alternate lab class (if available).

Your participation in both class and online activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Required IT skills

Students should be familiar with searching for relevant articles via electronic means, the use of Canvas, and Mahara, as well as the use of spreadsheet and word processing software.

All laboratory reports must be electronically submitted as a single pdf document via the corresponding Canvas dropbox. Online file conversion sites such as www.zamzar.com can be used to convert word documents into pdf files.

In-unit costs

Other than self-printing of material on Canvas and purchase of a laboratory coat, no additional costs are expected.

Work placement, internships or practicums

Learning in this unit will be integrally linked to experiences in professional contexts.

Additional information

Foundation of unit

This unit involves research-led education. There are active researchers and industry-based personnel delivering this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas site (Canvas forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

Absences or personal problems

In all cases of absence, sickness or personal problems it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the Unit Convener is informed. The minimum participation requirement must be met in order to pass the unit (regardless of supporting documentation).

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in laboratory sessions

During the laboratory sessions, it is essential that students be alert to the potential danger of chemicals to which they may be sensitive. For example, if they should experience symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, a dry or sore throat, stinging or burning sensation in their eyes, fatigue or loss of concentration, students must inform their demonstrator and leave the laboratory immediately. Students may need to go to the University Health Centre if symptoms persist. Further safety information is available in the laboratory manual.

Unforeseen circumstances  beyond the unit convenor's control could result in changes in the mode of delivery of workshops, practicals (where applicable) and assessments. Students will be advised if this occurs and appropriate alternatives will be arranged.